Staff at CIRS
Executive Director
Zahra Babar is the Executive Director at CIRS at Georgetown University in Qatar. Her current research interests include rural development, migration and labor policies, and citizenship in the Persian Gulf states…
Research Analyst
Misba Bhatti is the Research Analyst at CIRS. She received her Master’s degree from the London School of Economics. As such, she supports the Executive Director in carrying out research for the Center and identifies critical gaps in the scholarship where…
Noor Hussain
Research Program Specialist
Noor Hussain is the Research Program Specialist at CIRS. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She has worked on cultural and heritage projects across the Gulf region, including VCUarts Qatar, Doha Film Institute, Qatar National Library, and Diriyah Foundation. She is the recipient of the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) Creative and Critical Writings grant for her debut bi-lingual architectural pop-up book, Within the Ancient Wall.
Assistant Director for Publications
Suzi Mirgani is Assistant Director for Publications at the Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS), Georgetown University in Qatar, and served as book review editor for the Journal of Arabian Studies from 2015 to 2022. Her research is based on the intersection of politics and popular culture.
Visiting Research Fellow
Dr. Danyel Reiche is a Visiting Research Fellow at the Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS) and a Visiting Associate Professor at Georgetown University Qatar where he leads a research initiative on the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Assistant Director of CIRS Operations and Research Support
Elizabeth Wanucha is the Assistant Director of Operations and Research Support at the Center for International and Regional Studies. She contributes to the strategic development of CIRS, the CIRS Undergraduate Research Advancement (CURA) program, and CIRS-organized Hiwaraat programs and initiatives, ensuring they are implemented and in alignment with GU-Q’s vision and strategic priorities.